The Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan’s SEMA show, and Lexus Japan had a collection of show cars on display — here’s a collection of photos from the 2UX3J (Lexus backwards) booth, along with paraphrased descriptions from the designers.

Lexus LS Black Leopard

Designer Masanori Morikawa: The most supple and bewitching feline is the black leopard. The LS has a coat of jet black gloss with a “texture you will want to touch” and decorative metal studs in the image of black leopard fangs.

Lexus GS 450h Arctic Wolf

Designer Tadaomi Shibuya: The GS is the Arctic Wolf, the master of the hunt. We have proposed a new car design with graphic organic motif with the skeleton of the wolf.

Lexus IS F CCS-R Mountain Lion

Designer Toru Shibata: The IS F CCS R is like the Mountain Lion, running beautifully with excellent agility. A race car driving in pursuit, expressed with the trick art of stop motion.

Lexus LFA White Tiger

Designer Shingo Abe: The tiger is larger than the largest lion, and white tiger is regarded as a rarest of all. The presence of the LFA is itself a white tiger.

By focusing on the abstract concept of “cars as animals”, the designers were free to build some amazingly creative show cars.

(Lexus Japan has been doing a great job of combining artistic vision with their vehicle lineup — I’ve been very impressed with theresults.)